Suns Clown on the Hornets in the Second Half, Win.

The Hornets got tooled on in the second half by the Suns, resulting in a loss.

David Stern insisted that I remain quiet about the second half, citing “basketball reasons”. Below are my very rough first half notes. If for some reason this is your first time reading this site, this is not the norm.

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Ayon provided a nice spark when he checked into the game at the end of the first quarter. In his first four minutes he scored seven points on five shots and grabbed three boards. He missed his next two shots–a drive past Robin Lopez that led a missed reverse layup and then a floater from five feet or so—but both were quality attempts. It’s clear he had the green light on offense early. He got a nice round of applause when he checked out just over mid-way through the second quarter. He came back in late in the closing seconds of the 2nd quarter, and played what are probably his worst 10 seconds as a Hornet so far, turning it over after a failed drive, and then committing a dumb foul trying to make up for his mistake on the other end.

Vaquez was really performing well as a distributor, especially in the first half when he tied a career high with 8 assists vs 0 turnovers in only 11 minutes. He was 3-3 from the floor over that period as well. In the second half he would…

Jason Smith was 5-5 in the first half.

The Hornets and Suns both played 10 different players in the first quarter.

The name tag next to me at the media table just said “Sports Rabbi”. I kept waiting for the mystery (presumably Jewish) man to show up, but he never did.

The Hornets had 14 assists and only 2 turnovers through 18 minutes of play, and finished the first half with 20 assists and 4 turnovers.

Trevor Ariza missed a 20-footer with 6:25 to go in the second quarter. The Hornets didn’t miss a field again until he missed a three with roughly 45 seconds to go. They were 8-8 over that time period.

Belinelli was removed from the starting lineup, as Monty went in favor of Summers and Ariza at the wings. He doesn’t really distinguish between SF and SG, so it wasn’t surprising for him to start two guys who typically would be categorize as small forwards. He played that lineup for the first four minutes and most of the last four minutes of the first half.

In the first half, Emeka Okafor continued his solid offensive play everywhere but at the foul line. He hit another jumper.

See we are all forgetting our biggest problem and if you watch closely you will see it!!! Its Ariza, he cant score he has become a non-factor on the offensive end and the coaching staff to stupid to use him for defensive purposes example: if Steve Nash is scorcing your team why not switch and put Ariza on him and let Vasques who is a big gaurd, gaurd whoever Ariza was suppose to be gaurding??? I like Monty and think he is a ok coach but his lack of making in game adjustments is going to cost him his job! It really show you how good CP3 is, because if he was still a Hornet this same time would be at least .500 if not better!!!

I think when new ownership start making changes Monty will see the writing on the wall.In his defense this season is not his fault with the CP3 situation that was not in his control neither the trades thus with the line up changes,poor bench production and not many offensive scorers prove that accountablity has not been establish. Stern & CP3 made pawns out of Demps and Monty i don't want to start a conspiracy theory but how many of you think their was a trade in place prior to december 14th? to have other teams to have a chance to sign players that Demps maybe had in mind of signing if there was trade on december 7th or earlier we could had a decent roster to get by we should be a 7 to 10 win team right now not 4.

We f@#king SUCK!!!!!
I was flying into New Orleans last night, and when the plane took off we were leading, about to go to halftime. I almost vomited when I got home and saw the final score. Why are we the fountain of youth for all of the over the hill players in the league??
How can a "defense first" team give up 120 PTS to a lower level NBA team? This is by far the most sickening loss of the season.

The old guys figure us out . . . the old tricks?
As far as the points go, that's more a pace thing, as evidence by our score . . . I could be wrong, but I think we got caught up playing their game. And by pace I mean total number of possessions, not the running around part.

My notes from the game...
1. Okafor laid out a Suns player on a screen.
2. Ayon and Smith really look to be bonding, hope they can help each other out.
3. Thought NBA changed the rule where player couldn't jump into another player to cause a shooting foul. (Dudley jumping in Ayon at end of 2nd quarter.)
4. Bellinelli looked more comfortable coming off the bench.
5. When Suns changed lineup midway through 4th bringing in Nash and Dudley and Monty stayed small with Vasques, Jack, and Belli is when the game got away from us.

Cuban went off on the refereeing this year. I wish the Hornets brass would, too. We have a hard enough time winning when the calls are balanced. When they go unfairly against us (Smith foul at end of 2nd Q; Landry "charge") the Hornets have even less of a chance of winning.

@ JOE: no offense but what are you talking about? Stern is being a douche? didn't want you recapping the second half?... he told you that specifically? that must be a joke. if it was then sorry for the over-reaction, but if not who are you trying to protect by not fully recapping the game. I think that you, I , and of course stern all know that we should have won that game if not for the terrible officiating in the late third quarter and entire fourth. anyone notice the lingering stench of the 2002 western conference finals on Dick Bavetta? Use your analytical and writing skills to showcase the truth not hide it from others- you write very good reports. If you were just too disappointed or mentally drained after that game to re-reflect on the loss then I don't blame you at all, but why do david stern any favors. it may be in our best interest to lose, but the way we lost that game... i was disgusted. the team couldn't even see the point in trying at the end and i can't say i would've felt any differently

I actually wanted to go play trivia with my friends, and we had some miscommunication internally about picking up my slack.
If you want to know what I really think about the second half, then here-- The defense was atrocious. The refs didn't do us any favors. Steve Nash was wonderful.

Vaffanculo David Stern! Hornets in the NBA hands is terrible.. I live in north Italy, now here snowing, but i don't know if this city is frozen than New Orleans Arena in this season. Everyday i search the Hornets news, and when the Hornets play a game, the final result is very often L. I'm sad. This trade (Minnesota pick too) kill the Hornets. The Hornets and New Orleans deserve respect!

Apologies for this garbage recap. Stern is really being a douche. He seemed to think that if I didn't write about the second half, people would just assume we won since the first half was pretty solid.
Anyway...